Police and criticism
Police and criticism
In the Jan. 9, 1997 edition of Kompas there was a
disappointing statement from Jakarta Police Chief Gen. Hamami
Nata.
He was trying to explain the release of a large number of
students involved in the hijacking of a city bus which lead to
violence and caused injuries to the driver.
According to the police chief, the students did not hijack the
bus but only tried to force the bus to take them to a certain
destination. However their attempt failed.
If I am not mistaken, most hijackers (of planes, trains or
other vehicles) act exactly the same as the students did, and
they all pay dearly for it. Such an interpretation of the
students' conduct is unacceptable.
The students should be duly punished and not released so
easily. This might create a very bad precedent and encourage
other students to do similar things which cannot be tolerated.
I recall reading an article in the Jan. 4 edition of The
Jakarta Post which said that the National Police chief's
spokesman Brig. Gen. Nurfaizi had dismissed recent criticism as
unfair.
The police could not accept criticism aired by a number of
people including Kristiadi of the Center for Strategic and
International Studies (CSIS), law professor Satjipto Rahardjo, a
member of the National Commission on Human Rights, and retired
National Police chief Kunarto.
The police spokesman said the criticisms were shallow, because
the critics did not make their opinions known to the police
before revealing them to the public.
Why should they inform the police about their opinions in the
first place? It's a strange idea, especially as it comes from a
high ranking police officer. Most people believe that the guilty
students must be punished according to the law. Punishment has an
educative value and is also important in upholding discipline.
Our national discipline movement must not become an empty slogan,
we must do our utmost to make all programs a success.
It is true that we are engaged in too many programs
simultaneously: national discipline, caring for the poor, foster
parents for poor children, improvement of people's health etc. To
implement each of the programs we have established organizations,
foundations, shock units etc.
Police should accept criticism and try to improve from the
public's constructive comments. Psychologically speaking, people
like to find fault instead of trying to point out the good
things. However, as far as I am concerned, the community is
pointing out the negative things because they hope to improve the
service not discount it. People believe their life will be more
peaceful and enjoyable if the police take care of them and
protect society. Long live the police, we respect you!
SOEGIH ARTO
Jakarta